Cops: Woman came to police HQ with cocaine hidden in boots

Marie Demelo, 53, of Bridgeport, was arrested on larceny and drug charges.

Marie Demelo, 53, of Bridgeport, was arrested on larceny and drug charges.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Hearst Connecticut Media

Photo: Contributed Photo / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Marie Demelo, 53, of Bridgeport, was arrested on larceny and drug charges.

Marie Demelo, 53, of Bridgeport, was arrested on larceny and drug charges.

Photo: Contributed Photo / Hearst Connecticut Media

Cops: Woman came to police HQ with cocaine hidden in boots

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A woman who forgot about crack cocaine hidden in her boot when she turned herself in on a larceny warrant, police said, now faces drug charges.

Maria C. Demelo, 53, of Querida Street in Bridgeport, showed up at police headquarters last Friday evening on a warrant issued for her arrest on third-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny charges, stemming from an incident last Dec. 12 in the parking lot at Bill’s Crossroads bar.

While in police headquarters lobby, Demelo was told to leave her coat, purse, keys and other unessential items with her niece while she was being booked. According to the report, Demelo was asked if she had any illegal items in her possession and she said she did not.

In the booking area, Demelo was told to remove her boots. As she was unzipping her right boot, she began to struggle with itszipper. Police said they discovered the reason was three small bags of crack cocaine and a crack pipe were hidden inside the boot.

Damelo told police, “I didn’t know they were there,” according to the report. She was then charged with possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

In the Dec. 12 incident, police allege that Demelo entered an unlocked car in the bar’s parking lot, and was seated in the driver’s seat when the owner confronted her. She told the owner that she was just looking for a cigarette and got out of the car, with the owner’s purse in her hands. She left the scene, but the victim got the license registration plate on Demelo’s car and reported it to police.

Demelo was released on a $500 bond and is scheduled to appear Feb. 5 at state Superior Court in Bridgeport for both sets of charges.